St Patrick’s Day 2013: Places to celebrate in Cape Town

Enjoy green beer this weekend as we mark St Patrick's Day, an Irish holiday to remember one of the most prominent and beloved Irish saints.

Tonight Table Mountain will be lit up in green ahead of St Patrick's Day, which is celebrated tomorrow, March 17.

Even though Cape Town does not have a large Irish community, there is a long history that dates back to the 19th century. According to Wikipedia, a third of the Cape's governors were Irish, including Lord Caledon and Sir John Francis Cradock. And Sir Lowry's Pass is named after Dublin-born Lowry Cole, who was the governor of the Cape in the 1830s when the pass was opened.

It should come as no surprise, then, that we have taken to celebrating St Patrick's day with gusto. Some of the pubs that will be offering green beer and Irish bands include the Slug and Lettuce in Newlands, O'Driscoll's on the corner of Hout and Burg streets, and The Dubliner in Long Street. The Orphanage in Bree Street has lined up a delectable variety of Irish-themed cocktails.

The V&A Waterfront will be putting on a massive green show on tomorrow, with the giant Ferris wheel being lit up in green and the Amphitheatre a hive of activity, including live music. Most of the buskers will be dressed in green.

Quay 4, Ferrymans and Mitchell's are making a weekend of it, with live Irish bands and prizes up for grabs. Wherever you may find yourself on Sunday, may the luck of the Irish be with you.